Performance of a Laser-Diode End-Pumped Nd:Sr5(VO4)3F/Nd:YVO4 Hybrid-Crystal Laser

A laser-diode end-pumped continuous wave hybrid Nd:Sr5(VO4)3F and Nd:YVO4 laser is demonstrated. The two crystals are combined to construct a hybrid crystal having a broader effective absorption bandwidth than a single crystal. The hybrid laser can operate efficiently without controlling the temperature of the pump diode. In a combination wherein the c-axes of the two crystals are perpendicular to each other, the polarization states of the laser output can be selected by changing the pumping wavelength of the laser diode.